The Ivy League announced its major women’s awards Wednesday, but we know this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for: Ivy Hoops Online’s 2022-23 All-Ivy Awards, as determined by IHO’s contributors:
Player of the Year
Abbey Hsu, Columbia (Jr., G – Parkland, Fla.)
Hsu led the Ivy League in scoring and three-pointers, the most potent component of the conference’s most potent offense. The Lions don’t win their first Ivy League championship in program history without Hsu’s 35-point show in a 75-70 win at Harvard or her 15 points in a game-high 45 minutes in a 58-55 overtime win at Princeton. It’s Hsu you want putting up shots when the chips are down.
Rookie of the Year
Grace Arnolie, Brown (Fr., G – Vienna, Va.)
Arnolie entered the starting lineup five games into her collegiate career and never looked back, getting stronger as the season went on. Arnolie averaged 16 points in the last seven games of the season, including 20 in a 68-59 win over Penn that could be a harbinger of progress to come if Arnolie and the Bears’ young core keeps developing.
Honorable Mention: Emily Pape, Cornell (Fr., F – Park Ridge, Ill.)
Defensive Player of the Year
Ellie Mitchell, Princeton (Jr., F – Chevy Chase, Md.)
The reigning Ivy Defensive Player of the Year anchored another league-best defense for Princeton in 2022-23, hauling in 10 or more defensive rebounds in five games and at least one block in a dozen. Mitchell is more than just the classic rim protector, though, also regularly picking opponents off. Mitchell recorded six steals in the regular-season finale win at Penn, three months after notching eight in a win at Maine. Mitchell is the Tiger most responsible for Princeton’s no-quarter defensive identity.
Most Improved Player of the Year
Elena Rodriguez, Harvard (So., G – Aguimes, Spain)
Rodriguez started just two games in 22 appearances as a rookie, averaging two points and 1.6 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per contest. As a sophomore, Rodriguez emerged as not only a standout scorer but the Ivy’s most efficient, leading the conference in field-goal percentage by a wide margin and finishing in the league’s top 12 in scoring and assists. Rodriguez’s production only grew after her addition to the starting lineup early in Ivy play, boding well for the rest of her time with the Crimson.
Coach of the Year
Megan Griffith, Columbia
Any coach leading their program to its first conference title in history merits Coach of the Year consideration. In Griffith’s case, though, what’s most impressive is the knowledge this was expected. There was nothing fluky about Columbia’s Ivy title run. Griffith’s veteran roster delivered to bring home Ivy hardware, a natural achievement for a program that has gradually but consistently improved throughout her seven-year tenure. Columbia went 5-23 in Ivy play in Griffith’s first two seasons in 2017 and 2018, seasons that feel longer ago than they really are. Griffith’s straight-shooting swagger has set the tone for a program whose ceiling keeps appearing higher.
Game of the Year
Columbia 58, Princeton 55 (OT)
All-Ivy First Team
Abbey Hsu, Columbia (Jr., G – Parkland, Fla.)
Kaitlyn Chen, Princeton (Jr., G – San Marino, Calif.)
The conduit for Princeton’s offense committing the league’s fewest turnovers by far, Chen got more assertive down the stretch in Ivy play, averaging 22.5 points on 14.5 field-goal attempts in Princeton’s final four games, all wins. One of the league’s most efficient scorers and durable defenders, Chen is the linchpin of yet another Ivy title run for the Tigers.
Kayla Padilla, Penn (Sr., Torrance, Calif.)
The league’s most complete scoring threat, Padilla hurts opponents from all over the court. Padilla led the Ivy in free-throw percentage, finished behind only Hsu in scoring and three-pointers made. Padilla also had the conference’s second-best assist-to-turnover ratio, an especially impressive showing given how much Penn relied on her offensively. Padilla also logged more minutes per game than anyone in the league. No Ivy star was more valuable to her team than Padilla, and none shone brighter on a more consistent basis.
Kaitlyn Davis, Columbia (Sr., G/F – Norwalk, Conn.)
The ultimate stat sheet-stuffer, Davis finished in the Ivy’s top 12 in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage, assists, free-throw percentage, steals, blocks and assist-to-turnover ratio. Davis posted the first triple-double in program history in a win over Dartmouth in January. More importantly, her leadership as a senior made the program’s first ever Ivy title possible.
Harmoni Turner, Harvard (So., G – Mansfield, Texas)
Turner turned it up following her Ivy Rookie of the Year campaign last season, becoming an even more prolific scorer and larger focal point in Harvard’s offense. Setting the tone for her sophomore year with a 31-point outing in a season-opening win over Rhode Island, Turner stood out consistently for Harvard in Ivy play, including a 12-point, 12-assist performance in an 84-60 win over Penn. Turner is one of the league’s most versatile talents, and it’s a testament to her talent that no All-Ivy first-team list would be complete without her even as a sophomore.
All-Ivy Second Team
Ellie Mitchell, Princeton (Jr., F – Chevy Chase, Md.)
Mitchell isn’t all steals and blocks. She contributed nine points on 4-for-7 shooting and six offensive boards in Princeton’s 74-56 win at Columbia and is a capable scorer inside. Mitchell’s offensive rebounding knack frustrates opponents already frustrated by the stingy defense led by her at the other end of the floor.
Jordan Obi, Penn (Jr., F – Cupertino, Calif.)
Obi again was a formidable paint patroller, one of the league’s best shot-blockers and easily its best defensive rebounder. Even though Obi played slightly less than last year, coach Mike McLaughlin still depended heavily on her, giving her more minutes than any Ivy player other than Padilla and Yale’s Jenna Clark in Ivy play. Obi’s outside shooting improved significantly this season, yielding a 36.1% clip from three-point land. Obi’s a threat from anywhere on the court – at either end.
Kyla Jones, Brown (Jr., G – Chicago)
Jones followed up a debut season in which she led Brown in steals and tied for the team lead in assists by finishing third in scoring, registering 16.4 points per contest with greatly improved shooting efficiency while again notching a high volume of steals.
Julia Cunningham, Princeton (Sr., G – Watchung, N.J.)
The veteran may have had a dry shooting spell down the stretch, but her defense (fourth in blocks and eighth in steals), passing and intangible leadership was critical in lifting Princeton to another Ivy crown after a 0-2 start to conference play. Cunningham’s 15 points in 33 minutes helped push Princeton past Columbia on the road.
Lola Mullaney, Harvard (Jr., G – Rumson, N.J.)
Over half of Mullaney’s field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc, a sensible clip when shooting as sharply as she does. Mullaney’s fifth-best 35.2% clip from three-point range is a key part of the Crimson offense, the best among all Ivies besides Columbia. Mullaney had no problem putting up points against the Lions, notching 47 points jn 80 minutes in two games against Columbia. Don’t be surprised if Mullaney gives Columbia fits again in their Ivy League Tournament semifinal matchup, but even if she doesn’t, her place as one of the league’s most effectively aggressive shooters and defenders has long been secure.
Honorable Mention: Elena Rodriguez, Harvard (So., G – Aguimes, Spain)